Whereabouts of paintings 1933

List of works with incomplete provenance from 1933–1945

In the light of concern that some works of art now in public collections may have been improperly acquired during the period 1933–1945, without restitution having been made, the National Gallery has paid particular attention to the whereabouts of its paintings during those years.

Part of the National Gallery's normal work is to investigate the whereabouts of its paintings from the time they were painted until the time they entered the Gallery's collection.

This may reveal material of great historical interest concerning, for example, the identity of the painter, the purpose for which the picture was painted, and changing patterns of collecting taste.

In March 1999, with the cooperation of the Gallery, The Art Newspaper published an initial list of paintings in the Gallery with incomplete provenance information for the period 1933–1945. Since then the Gallery's research has continued and the list has been updated from time to time and made available to any member of the public on request.

As at 17 December 2018, the Gallery had not received any claims asserting on behalf of another or others that any of the paintings on its list was looted or otherwise improperly acquired, nor was it aware of any such claim in process. If further information is needed in respect of any particular painting, please in the first instance email research.centre@ng-london.org.uk.

Questions 1933-1945

CRANACH

'Cupid complaining to Venus'

81 x 55cm.

Bought by the NG from E & A Silbermann (D), 1963

NG6344

Provenance

Sale of collector, Emil Goldschmidt of Frankfurt at Rudolph Lepke, Berlin, 27 April 1909. Recorded in an album of photographs of paintings in Hitler’s private collection. Understood to have been chosen by Mrs Patricia Lochridge Hartwell, an American war correspondent, in 1945 from premises in Germany controlled by American armed forces and taken by her to the USA.

[1] The 2008 sale catalogue and Sutton 2012 cite Edith Griendl, 'Les peintres flamands de nature morte au XVIIe siècle' (Brussels, 1956), p. 176, and 2nd edn (Brussels, 1983), p. 365, no. 7, as referring to NG6667, a pair with NG6666. However, the dimensions of the painting (17 x 22.5 cm) given there for the work with Kunsthandel M. Wolff in 1938 do not correspond with either NG6666 or NG6667. Therefore their provenance before being purchased by Wetzlar should be considered uncertain.

[2] Hans Alfred Wetzlar was active in the art trade from about 1940; it is not clear exactly when he began to form his personal collection of 15th- to 17th-century paintings. As the paintings by van Kessel, NG6666 and NG6667, do not appear in the catalogue of the Wetzlar collection published in 1952, it is very possible that they were acquired after that date.

[1] The 2008 sale catalogue and Sutton 2012 cite Edith Griendl, 'Les peintres flamands de nature morte au XVIIe siècle' (Brussels, 1956), p. 176, and 2nd edn (Brussels, 1983), p. 365, no. 7, as referring to the present painting; however, the dimensions of the painting (17 x 22.5 cm) given there for the work with Kunsthandel M. Wolff in 1938 do not correspond with either NG6667, or its pair NG6666. Therefore their provenance before being purchased by Wetzlar should be considered uncertain.

[2] Hans Alfred Wetzlar was active in the art trade from about 1940; it is not clear exactly when he began to form his personal collection of fifteenth- to seventeenth-century paintings. As the paintings by van Kessel, NG6666 and NG6667, do not appear in the catalogue of the Wetzlar collection published in 1952, it is very possible that they were acquired after that date.

Provenance

Questions 1933-1945

MENZEL, ADOLPH

'Afternoon in the Tuileries Gardens'

Bought with the assistance of the American Friends of the National Gallery, London, the George Beaumont Group and a number of gifts in wills, including a legacy from Mrs Martha Doris Bailey in memory of her husband Mr Richard Hillman Bailey, 2006

{1} Provenance between Kann sale and private collection.{2} Date and source of acquisition by private collection.{3} Date and recipient of disposal by private collection.{4} Provenance between private collection and 1981 sale.

Questions 1933-1945

DAVID WILKIE

'A Young Woman kneeling at a Prayer Desk'

Bought with the support of a generous legacy from Miss Marcia Lay, 2014

NG6650

Provenance

Baron Pierre de Menasce (1924-2013)

Bought Doyle, New York auction, 29 January 2014, as attributed to Sir David Wilkie, ‘A Lady in Prayer’ by Ben Elwes, London, from whom bought by the Gallery with the support of a generous legacy from Miss Marcia Lay, 2014